Waterborn Trial

By Anders Brink and G.L. Hawk

The worlds of the keikai and the Fayzhon overlap but do not intersect. While the amphibious keikai clans fight for supremacy in the oceans, the Fayzhon live inland in their hives. In this age of change, a comet brings upheaval into their chaotic existences, wrecking political factions, intrigue, romances. How will they discover each other and restore the peace?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anders Brink
• Release date: Oct 19, 2009
• ISBN: 9781452386683

Anders Brink

Anders Brink is what a Singapore-based scientist, teacher and writer calls himself when writing science fiction. Otherwise, while doing science or teaching high school kids, he is known by other more conventional names. When not doing science, not teaching and not writing, he tools around with computers and webpages. He holds a Ph.D in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University.

Book preview

Book One of the Waterborn Duology

Anders Brink

and

G. L. Hawk

Copyright © 2009 Chong Shang Shan and Goh Hock Leong

All Rights Reserved.

The moral rights of the authors have been asserted.

Illustration Copyright © 2009 by Anders Brink

All Rights Reserved.

Published 2009 by Anders Brink and Company

Smashwords Edition

Visit the author website at http://andersbrink.com

Get the second book of the Waterborn Duology, Waterborn Triumph.

For the trying times that we have and will have to all live through.

- A. B.

For my dearest

- G. L. H.

Contents

Chapter 1. The Onset of Change

Chapter 2. The Echoes of the Cataclysm

Chapter 3. The Waves of Repercussion

Chapter 4. The Stirrings of Hearts

Chapter 5. The Fountain of Confusion

Chapter 6. The Vortices of Worries

Chapter 7. The Ascension of Darkness

Chapter 8. The Workers of Discovery

Chapter 9. The Shifts of Loyalties

Chapter 10. The Storms of Escape

Chapter 11. The Cracks of Division

Chapter 12. The Wings of Command

Chapter 13. The Workers of Science

Chapter 14. The Craft of Leadership

Chapter 15. The Challengers of Truth

Glossary

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. The Onset of Change

Z’Don and Wor Senya

Light from the setting sun etched patterns of light and shadow within the Z’Don’s office chamber; everything from the sienna brown songwood table near the window to the little streaks of silver from the sky. Everything took on its own hue. The western corner of the cell was cropped by shadows of varying shades while the rest of the office was illuminated in copper glow. On his table, the thick report of Xiimen, rated hive secret, sat on the songwood table, penumbrated by the shadow of Xayken, the Z’Don of Wor Senya. It was waiting to be picked up again.

Xayken’s deep-set fuchsia-scarlet eyes rested on the shadows of the room rather than the report. This was the report that had cost him his sleep. No shadow can exist without light, he thought. Looking at the varying shades of gray, Xayken once again became aware that all matters in the world were governed by their interplay.

The head of Senya considered the momentous report again as he shifted unconsciously on his perch to ease his slightly numbed leg muscles. Which side is this report on? Xayken knew the matter not about black, white and gray, but subtle shadings of these essential principles imbued with colour, each with some claim to validity, just like the shadow and light in his office.

The choice of the cocoon site determines a hiver’s sentience. Sites closer to the river mouth yield a higher probability of hatching sentient hivers.

Xayken sighed, his large throat sac heaved a little, shifted to a lighter shade of olive drab green before returning to the normal uubeao state again. Such a revelation will shake our deepest core. Fellow TruthSeekers would be jubilant at the discovery, but the Pathfinders would be furious, as this finding would threaten their taboos and traditions.

Xiimen, the C’Keshueka, was aware of the social consequences of his discovery. The Z’Don smiled, Xiimen, like any other keshuekas, seek understanding of nature through science. The ramifications of the discoveries upon society from science are usually not high on keshuekas’ minds.

It had been really fortunate that Xiimen had given this report the highest security rating. A document with such high state of confidentiality cannot be duplicated. Thus there was only one such report, and it was up to him, Xayken, the Z’Don of Wor Senya, to decide what to do with it’s revelations.

Such secret could never be hidden forever in Wor Senya. He concluded. The high security cloak would attract attentions from other factions. It would be just a matter of time before spies from both the Blue and the White Trillium Pathfinders learn about the existence of this report. However, burning the only copy of the report was never an option for a TruthSeeker. He was not a keshueka, but Xayken, being a TruthSeeker, could not bear to lose knowledge after it had been painstakingly dredged from the mire of Nature. Even if the finding had been allowed to sink back into bog obscurity, the knowledge would resurface again.

I can only choose the timing to reveal the findings. It must be within the next few moons. Xayken’s mind flew into another path of thought. When the Pathfinders know about the findings, would they confront us in the Parliament, or would they strike a deal? Would this finally split the Blues and the Whites? That would be good news though. And what about rumours of an upstart secret religious sect – the Red Trillium?

Pathless Trillium! I was never meant for politics! Xayken exclaimed and gave up. Trying to out guess and outsmart his political opponents had always been a frustrating task to him, ever since he became the Z’Don three hatches ago. His throat sac heaved a little and turned paler before sagging to uubeao, the normal state of green. I’ll just do my duty and forget about political machinations. That was always his very thought, but that was also a wishful thinking. Nevertheless, he had this thought often. Perhaps his old body, which had seen twenty hatches, was getting tired and his mind has aged. Two more hatches and I can retire. Xayken encouraged himself.

Heaving another sigh, Xayken picked up the report and randomly flipped through the pages. Despite all his readings and rereadings, he could not figure out the question that had sprung to his mind at the first reading. This report did not just give him political problems, but also a moral one. Would we dare to use the knowledge?

Normally, any report to him would have a section on recommended action, but Xiimen had not included one in this report. Is he hiding something, even from me? Could he actually be a Pathfinder spy? No! That cannot be. I’m getting paranoid, to have suspicions of a fellow hatchling. Next, I would be suspecting my own queen! Xayken puffed his throat sac thrice, amused by this ridiculous thought.

Xayken looked at the ring-clock on his table. The one hee long sepiaos were chewing the Bryakin fungus in the seventh sector of his clock. It is still the Sechen of RelentGlow, but the Sechen of LastLight is only sechen away. So there is only one and a half sechen of daylight left. Further contemplation would not shed any light to my questions. I should visit Xiimen to illuminate all these issues.

With that decision made, he called for Mynin, his secretary. A hiver of small build who had seen only one less hatch than him appeared through the inner door. Z’Don?

I am going to pay Xiimen a visit. Keep note of any visitor. Schedule them in my next working day if necessary.

The laconic secretary flexed his large throat sac, Yes, Z’Don. Are there any other orders?

Xayken looked at the sepiaos in the clock again and added, Just remember to replenish the clock feeds. The clock was a ring-container that was divided into twelve radial sections with each section containing the one specific food that the sepiao worm would eat at the time. Recognition of the regularity of the sepiao dietary pattern of twelve different types of leaves and fungus, regardless of seasons, hatches, temperature and humidity had long ago enabled hiver keshuakas to tell the time using these domesticated worms in translucent silk containers.

Mynin looked at the clock and said, It will be done. After confirming that there were no further orders, he retreated to the adjoining cell where he managed the schedule and activities of the Z’Don.

Once again alone in his office, Xayken stood up, took the report in one hand, and faced the window. The sky was lit up by the crimson sun. From his vantage high above the ground, the world was still bathed in copper radiance, rendering the forest in a texture of corporeal beauty. Nature’s fertile winds of dreams and imagination had given shape to life in all its possible forms, from the tallest bybeyn trees with its ever-changing foliage’s hue, to the marine ookiis with its hard shell. Land, sea and air were filled with zest of life. Especially in the air.

Xayken opened the door next to the window. Immediately the evening wind assaulted him, but it did little to break the heat of Wor Senya’s hot, damp summers. The rest of the year was still summer but just a different facet of it. He caught the scents of day, salt from the Mystic Sea, fresh blossoms of the scarlet-gold Heaven Glory, mud from the marshes, and the sour smell of a large tannery yard that was just three lees off from the southern cell-block.

With his upper right hand holding the report, Xayken moved forward and steadied himself with his other hands on the door frame as he stood at the door perch. Peering downward at the tannery, he saw some Di-Kongres, the semi-sentient workers scraping hides stretched on rows of wooden frames, while others were lifting hides out of huge, sunken vats. Some of the hides were transported into the storage cell-block two lees east of there. The others after soften by a yellowish-green liquid returned into the vats. Xayken smiled again, his cheek ridges lifted and his throat sac tinted with blue.

The liquid was one among the treasured knowledge that had been slowly pried from the mystic clutches of nature. Initially there was just lore. Real science, systematic knowledge with understanding, only began much later some four hundred and sixty hatches ago in the Age of Water, and with it, nature appeared less intimidating. With science, hivers have spread throughout Dalu and prospered. But no other hives are more prosperous than Wor Senya. Our science is the most advanced. His throat sac bloated with pride.

Shifting his attention to the myriad of activities nearby, Xayken noticed a group of Di-Kuangkas streaming in from the west carrying cocoons found on the eastern banks of the Wise River. He recognized that among the tenders was one of his few trusted friends, Xavyn. Xavyn was also his fellow hatchling, but unlike him and Xiimen, who had achieved full sentience, the Wise River had only blessed Xavyn with partial sentience. He could understand simple instructions, and once in a while he could string a complete sentence by himself. Although there were hivers who developed full-sentience later in life, that was extremely rare. The semi-sentient hivers lacked high thinking ability and thus were only entrusted to menial jobs such as workers, tenders and farmers. Despite the difference in the level of sentience, Xayken found Xavyn to be soothing company. Maybe I’ll ask Xiimen to come along later to meet up with Xavyn. The three of us have not perched together to share kar for several zholds.

The Di-Konres and Di-Kuangkas Hordes were not the only semi-sentients busy at this period of the day. The Di-Longres were still busy in the farms - watering the plants, removing the weeds and many other tasks to ensure a good harvest at the end of the growing season.

A group of trustworthy balwinhis just came in from the west and workers were unloading bulks of silk of the highest quality. These goods were part of the trade with Wor Capeborn, the nearest Hive to Wor Senya. Yet, Wor Capeborn was still six days journey from here to the Wise River, crossing it at the Trillium Bridge, and another six days journey northwest. The other hives were much further away, separated by the imposing continent divider known as the Old Queen. However the distance and the inconvenience due to the obstructing Old Queen did not stop the other hives from trading with Wor Senya for high quality lenses, glasses and hides. They came also for the almost boundless knowledge recorded in the Senya Library.

Thinking of Senya Library reminded him of Xiimen. His lab or the library? I think I’ll try his lab first. Tilting his head upward, Xayken inspected the air space. The wind blew from the south. Traffic was fairly thick on the north-bound route but the west-bound route had a smooth flow. Xayken retracted his focus from the distance. After confirming that there was no traffic near his cell, Xayken jumped out from his office. Unfurling his wings he caught the wind and soared.

Xiimen’s lab was about one mee to the west and it should not take more than a fen to reach there. Xayken did not pay much attention to the air traffic and simply relied on instinct to avoid the crisscrossing tree branches webbed with red or yellow throbbing vein, the drifting leaves and vines and a startled balwinhi that had swung into his flight path. The call of the changing watch drifted from the wall ring, mingled with the sounds of sword practice by the yongsheis.

Xayken was Edberg’s SunRoamers, who placed themselves at a fixed distance from him, in accordance to the standard practice since he became the Z’Don. In that way, he could have his illusion of freedom of movement while allowing the SunRoamers to do their job protecting him.

A ring of the hive bell that signified the end of the Sechen of RelentGlow, the beginning of the Sechen of LastLight and Xayken’s arrival at his destination. Behind him, SunRoamers settled down in formation, positioning themselves to protect him, should any emergency arise.

Dukryn and Wor Senya

Fascinating! Dukryn heard Conare exclaim. His fellow TruthSeeker associate’s cheek ridges oscillated up and down, and his one good eye shifted from the image of the candle to Dukryn.

Dukryn could not see Conare’s expression clearly in the dark. The lab chamber had been converted into a dark chamber by sealing off the windows. Only a single candle lighted the entire chamber casting yellow light and flickering sharp shadows. Dukryn did not look at the flame knowing that it would affect his night vision. Instead his attention was on the image.

I cannot agree more, said Dukryn as he flexed his throat sac to azure hue. He felt jubilant too as they had made another breakthrough in their research into the mystery of the bybeyn tree.

They had recently made a stunning discovery – six tiny holes were ringed around the trunk of the bybeyn tree. That finding alone would cause a fairly major storm among the biologists in Senya. However Dukryn and Conare intended to further study the matter before releasing the results.

Evolution is miserly. The pin-holes had to serve a purpose. Perhaps they are remnants of evolution, Dukryn mused. It was not uncommon that some features present in some creatures had no apparent uses today, even if they had them in the past.

But why is the image inverted? Dukryn asked, looking at the inverted image of the candle on the stretched leather screen. The image was almost an exact replica of the real one. Its light wavered in sync with the real flame in a tune, which only it could hear. Between the real flame and its image stood another leather screen with a tiny hole pierced using a zhumu awl. The two keshuekas were simulating the function of the tiny holes found on the bybeyn’s trunk.

I don’t know, but I do know one thing. Conare paused, Dukryn realized, for the dramatic effect of telling a joke. With slightly lifted cheek ridges, Dukryn played along, What do you know?

If the bybeyn trees see with these pin-holes then their world will be inverted. That indeed must be looking at the world from a different perspective, Conare jested, his compact throat sac undulating unevenly, but with a healthy tone of green. The chartreuse-green eye band on his left eye flexed slightly from the movement of his cheek ridges.

Who is to say their point of view is inverted? Maybe it’s ours. Dukryn countered. Unable to find a reasonable rebuttal, Conare puffed his throat sac and shrugged, Perhaps.

Shift the candle, Dukryn told his colleague. Let’s see whether the image will change. Conare moved the candle closer to the pin-hole. The image remained clear and inverted but smaller. Conare continued adjusting the candle slowly closer to the pin-hole until the image became fuzzy and unclear.

Interesting. Shift the candle back?

The image returned to clarity.

It seems the bybeyn is short-sighted. It can only see distant objects clearly, Dukryn voiced his thought. That was followed by another question. Why does the bybeyn need to see so far? I would think that the pin-holes are for looking at insects flying near its orifice. But this current finding just invalidated my hypothesis. Dukryn’s frustration caused his throat sac to flutter about with spots of brown appearing on it. The wisps of smoke from the candle flame drifting around the chamber further irritated him.

Dukryn, bloat your throat sac! Do not doubt yourself that you are a good keshueka and a first grade researcher. Conare encouraged the talented keshueka who was only six hatches old. The path of discovery is seldom easy and straight forward, but full of dark storms and strong gales. The so called history of science learnt in school is just a lore.

Conare flexed his throat sac and raised his cheek ridges as he continued, The so-called progress of science sticks closely to the main path, ignoring the false starts, blind valleys and wrong branch. That’s the way keshuekas like to remember them – a succession of brilliant insights and heroic triumphs unmarred by foolish errors, utter confusion and total frustration. It wasn’t really that simple, you know?

Dukryn had to smile. He appreciated Conare’s encouragement and realized he had to put failures in the right perspective. Ever since he and Conare had chosen the bybeyn as the subject of their study, they had made startling discoveries. The discovery of the pin-holes was just their latest breakthrough.

I know, the more we study the Bybeyn trees, the more we realise we do not know. There are so much that still eludes the illumination of science! Even though we have discovered much, but I do not know if we are close to discovering the reason for the fluttering colours of the Bybeyn’s leaves, which is the primary objective of our studies. Dukryn puffed his throat sac to show his emphasis.

We started by looking at one question and ended with another one, said Conare, his cheek ridge raised up again. That’s research!

Dukryn agreed. Conare was right again. Although Conare was just a hatch older than him, his one-eyed colleague was far more mature than him. Thanks to Conare, Dukryn was now able to turn his mind back to the scientific problem again with his usual optimism. Answers will be found to the two questions. Maybe the two questions are related.

Healer and Hard-Circle Clan

When Honki the healer sought out his Uncle Hireigli, he was taken aback by the raw splendour of the capital city of the Hard-Circle Clan. The domes housing the courts, the merchants and the slave-pens were all much larger than those of House Linoka. The tunnels and warren-holes criss-crossed from dome to dome endlessly; so much that it had taken him three zhikan to find the court’s keiooki-pool.

Unsure of what he looked like, Honki loitered about the keiooki-pool, staring through the dark water at each and every keiooki-master who hurried in and out of there. Several eyed him suspiciously and blew irregularly shaped bubbles of consternation.

Uncle Hireigli, you must help me, said Honki, finally sure that he had found the right keikain.

We are only distantly related, son. Your mother’s brother was merely my half-brother’s oath-cousin. I seldom see you when I return for hikonkii. Hireigli replied, embarrassed that he should be the one associated with this keikain with poor manners. You, in fact, have made it. You are a healer, and a rather famed one in our Hard-Circle Clan, if those old wives of House Linoka are to be believed.

You must help me find her, Honki bleated as he unconsciously flipped his back flippers in the heated water. The water in the keiooki-pool was heated and kept dark to comfort the keiookis.

Hireigli swam towards the seal, directing Honki to a more private quarter of the keiooki-pool. Honki followed.

What’s in it for me, son? Hireigli said, turning around to face the young keikain. How may I, a lowly keiooki-master help a healer like you? The keiooki-master turned to adjust the heating switch, to make himself look busy.

Honki’s leathery skin detected waves that indicated the content shuffling of the keiookis in their stalls and the vibrations distracted him for a moment. Do you remember two cycles back when you came to our house to take Yunaha to the court of King Henka? Honki asked.

Two cycles? Hireigli said. I can’t remember that far, sorry. If you said I did it, I suppose I did. His blow-hole constricted. An obvious signal that he wanted to end the conversation.

The healer ignored the sign. Try to remember, Honki bleated again. I was following you on my own keiooki. I saw you bring her down from the kotuna, then march her into the court chambers.

It seems that you remember more than I do. For tens of cycles I have done nothing but bring keikayus in and out the court. How do you expect me to remember one keikayu out of all of them?

Listen, she never returned from the court, Honki said as though he was revealing a huge secret. She has vanished without a trace.

Typical. Young keikayu enrols in court, young keikayu becomes king’s concubine, and is never heard of again, Hireigli snorted and his eye-stalks wavered. You know the old joke – The blood of all houses runs in every dynasty.

At the mention of this, Honki became very agitated. But that’s not true. I have enquired at the Registry. There is no concubine named Yunaha there, nor anyone matching her description.

Take my advice, healer Honki, Hireigli said as he blew a soothing wave with his blow-hole to Honki. Find yourself a good keikayu from your own house, master well the healing crafts, and produce more young striplings for our house. Forget her.

The soothing wave failed to calm his agitation. I just want to know where she has gone to ...

There is plenty of kihon in keikai, as the old saying goes. Hireigli went on. Why must you contend with King Henka for one?

You’re not listening to me – there is every indication that she was not made a consort of King Henka, Honki said in exasperation. Try to remember. Were you by any chance following orders to bring her to somewhere else after she went in?

I don’t remember. It’s two cycles back!

Please!

Listen nephew, healer, whatever. I cannot help you. Hireigli said. I’d help you if I could yes, but I am unable. I can sympathize with the feeling. Who does not have, within his keikain belly, hitsu-sweet memories of young stripling love? But I am sure whatever she’s doing, she does not deserve this kind of attention.

I don’t believe you can’t remember. She was a very beautiful keikayu.

To you maybe, Hireigli said. Don’t you know that such obsessions are not healthy, healer? Or do they not teach that anymore at healer’s school?

If you do remember, on the small chance that you can remember something, this is my address, Honki said, passing a slate to him. Wire me if you can recall anything.

You are a really persistent one, aren’t you? Hireigli stated. But you have not answered me, what am I getting out of this?

I’ll see to it that your family remains healthy, Honki replied, remounting his keiooki. I hope you don’t mind, but let me ask around the keiooki-pool.

I’ll bear that in mind, Hireigli said, and then added. But don’t get yourself in trouble!

Z’Don and Wor Senya

Hovering just outside the window, Xayken peered in and saw Xiimen turning towards him. However Xiimen’s eyes were distant. Xayken guessed that his thoughts were inward, most likely thinking hard on some scientific problems. He was saved the trouble of interrupting his fellow hatchling when Xiimen’s deep scarlet eyes blinked suddenly. Xayken. Come in. I have been expecting you.

Xayken backwinged and landed gently on the door perch just outside the door. Retracting his wings, the Z’Don opened the door and walked into Xiimen’s lab carpeted in soft azure blue. The wind blew through the door and fluttered the candle light and rustled some of the loosely held down papers. The wind dropped when he closed the door behind him. Xayken did a quick scan around Xiimen’s laboratory. The lab was in its usual mess. Dark songwood shelves lined walls especially the entire northern one. A large dyeboard filled with words and diagrams occupied the southern wall. Opposite the west facing window was another door leading to an inner adjoining cell. Where shelves did not line the walls, maps hung often in layers, with charts of the night sky. He could recognize a few of the constellations - the Gliding Hawk and the Spinning Bloom, the Great Serpent, the famous three bright stars known as the Triad Cycle that guided all hivers to the North and the three blue-tinted stars collectively called the Blue Trillium that marked the South – but others were unfamiliar. Books and scrolls covered nearly every place, which Xayken was sure Xiimen could find to put them. All sorts of stuffed specimen stood among bones and skulls of every shape and description.

Xayken took all these in quickly and focused on several new things that were not there in his previous visit. What appeared to be a stuffed grey suuzhon with olive drab stripes running along its body, a small rare worm-eating creature, stood on a bleached white skull of a large animal. The skull had two large eye sockets, a high forehead and a large almost half spherical cranium. Xayken gently puffed his throat sac in puzzlement. The skull is too large. No living creature’s head ever came to that size. It must have been an ancient fossil of a long extinct species. Xayken’s TruthSeeker’s training gave him a platform to give reasonable deduction. After solving that small mystery, Xayken shifted his attention elsewhere.

He noticed that candlesticks had been stuck about in a haphazard fashion, giving good light here and shadows there. There was still some light from the sun, and usually Xiimen would have forgotten to light the candles until shadows covered his current project. But knowing Xiimen, he probably had forgotten and left the candles there since last night. The length of the candles and the piled of melted wax at their bases confirmed his suspicion. Xayken looked again at the suuzhon. It blinked at him. Xayken’s throat sac deflated in surprise and he almost took flight.

Having anticipated his question, Xiimen explained, It adopted me. I guess there are plenty of worms here. The Suuzhon stretched and slinked across the table toward the chief scientist. It sighed with comfort as Xiimen stroked her grey silky fur. Xayken’s attention still lingered upon the suuzhon. It was only the size of a fist. A fistful squeeze would have killed it. Such a delicate creature. Xayken wanted to ask Xiimen more about his new pet and also about that interesting skull. It would be even more enjoyable to talk about all his ongoing projects. But duty called him. I am not here for an idle chat.

Xiimen, we were hatched from the same brood and grew up together. Although we are now seeking different aims in life, we still search for Truth. Xayken said, a bit too formally and harshly. I did not get that out right! I am not in a Parliament session. Xayken cursed himself silently. He was known for starting conversations badly. But he usually could be more fluent as the conversations carried on. When he became the Z’don, many had speculated that his speech problem would have him out of the Z’Don Office faster than the time needed for a balwinhi to swing from Wor Senya to Wor Capeborn. He had lasted three hatches, although there were occasions when his position was threatened. Still, he had withstood all the political storms, with much help from some of his trusted colleagues and his queen Geenar.

I do not get your meaning, Xiimen teased as he lifted his cheek ridges. The chief scientist could not resist teasing his fellow hatchling even though Xayken was now the Z’Don of Senya.

Xayken looked at him with his cheek ridges arching down, knowing that Xiimen was silently laughing at him. He tried to rephrase, Xiimen, frankly I’m tired. Can you stop tell me why you left out the recommendations section? That sounded slightly better. But many would have come up with less frank manners of expression.

Well, that’s because this is a special case. A scientist should not make recommendations that not only affect all hivers but also traditions as well. That’s your job, not mine. Xiimen explained, as if he was lecturing a young apprentice about some basic and obvious idea. However, Xayken did not think it was that simple. He sensed that Xiimen was hiding something from him. He sounded a bit too casual. Xayken puffed his throat sac twice, indicating disbelief or rather a more polite version that translated roughly to ‘I beg to differ’.

Xiimen saw Xayken’s gesture and wanted to clarify further but was cut-off by Xayken.

Yes, precisely. That’s why I need the advice

However Xayken did not complete his sentence as his eyes suddenly widened to a stare at something far away. It was so full of emotions that Xiimen involuntarily turned around to search for the object of Xayken’s gaze. But he found nothing. The C’Keshueka was about to ask Xayken what he was looking at when he noticed further signs. Xayken’s throat sac was deflated completely in a sickly saffron yellow hue of panic mixed with ivory white of fear. His cheek ridges were twitching out of control. Flash-back?!

Images, dreams and raw emotions flooded Xayken’s mind and assaulted his senses. Overwhelmed and spell-bound, time seemed compressed and dilated, both at the same time. Danger, fear, hunger. He remembered or rather sensed a school of large blue clawpods swimming above his hiding place, disturbing the water flow, carrying the scent of hunt to him. He sensed in fear that the predators had spotted him hiding among the deep crevices. The feeling of being hunted lingered. He wouldn’t even risk going out to ascertain that danger was over, much less to look for food. Danger, fear, hunger. Unconstrained primordial emotions kept swarming him, enshrouding him from his rational thought even though it was just an episode of the past, as unreal as the mistbow. But as suddenly as it came, it left.

Xayken was left standing there, breath rasped raw in his throat sac. Residues of primal emotions still lingered in his mind.

Flashback? Xayken heard Xiimen’s voice and looked up. The C’Keshueka’s throat sac was ruffled with concern, but the sight triggered no emotion in him. The passing of the storm of raw emotions had temporarily drained his feelings. Xayken knew that Xiimen had never experienced one before. Not all hivers experienced flashback and even then they varied greatly in intensity and clarity. Some felt it like a dim, half-forgotten dream, while others like Xayken experienced it vividly.

When Xayken was young and Xiimen was just a keshueka apprentice, a group of scientists, including Xiimen’s mentor had tried identifying the underlying cause of flashbacks but failed. However they managed to find a significant correlation between those experiencing flashbacks and the level of their intelligence. They found that those who experienced flashbacks raw were most likely keshuekas or highly distinguished hivers. Building on that finding, Xiimen eventually formed his own theory. Those experiencing flashbacks were adult hivers who had higher level of sentience. This might mean that they possibly had some self-awareness even at their larval stage of zhon. It was a radical idea, to say the least. Thus Xiimen had only shared his theory with Xayken.

All hivers, including most keshuekas, believed the zhon was non-sentient. But Xiimen postulated that some might have a glimmer during this dark stage of their life cycle. Thus some adult hivers were able to recall their traumatic experiences when they were a larvae surviving in the harsh Wise River. The fact that semi-sentient workers did not suffer from flash-back also fitted nicely into Xiimen’s theory. The workers simply did not have that glimmer of sentience when they were a zhon and thus could not recall memories from that stage of their life cycle.

Xiimen had once explained to Xayken that usually such neurotic dross was suppressed under layers of self-protecting mechanism to prevent past trauma from inflicting damage to the current self. But these memories might surface due to an unknown trigger, possibly an external stimuli. Xiimen had complained to him often about the ban imposed by the Pathfinders. The Pathfinders rejected the theory outright and had forbidden any keshueka to go further into this line of research. Even Senya, the stronghold of the TruthSeekers, suffered as this ban was imposed by the federation. Senya, as one of the eight hives of the federation, had no choice but to follow.

Xayken always thought of Xiimen’s theory whenever he returned from a raw flashback. But Xayken was never aware of that until now. Maybe, I unconsciously desired some rational explanation to these flashbacks that have inflicted me every so often.

Was it bad?

Xayken returned his mind to the outside world. He realized that Xiimen had asked again concerned, as he saw no response to his earlier question. Xayken flexed his throat sac and then puffed it full, as if to blow away his fear that still clung to his throat sac. He consciously slowed down his breathing and took bigger breaths to steady himself. His throat sac was no longer deflated, but traces of ashy white and yellow still remained.

I’m all right, Xayken finally spoke. The flashback had pushed the purpose of his visit to the back of his mind, but soon it would be completely banished to the cold dark void. His attention was drawn involuntarily towards the large west-facing window, as though something in the sky was calling him. Without turning to look at Xiimen, he was sure the chief scientist was also watching the sky. Xayken got the feeling that something was going to happen. Something ominous of great momentous import.

The transition of the sun through the sky enchanted the eyes with hues of copperish tone of carmine, fiery cinnamon and smoky lavender. A horde of blue Giakynn with black-tipped wings flew past the view, taking advantage of the onshore wind to soar higher before gliding down to their warm nests, where their hatchlings awaited.

What he saw could inspire peace and calm. It might even draw poetry out of a semi-sentient hiver. But it was not so. A silvery white streak of intense radiance appeared in the sky, its milky tail straight as a blade, contrasting well against the evening backdrop. It seemed to be the final touch but the beauty of the tail was the trail of a falling star, beautiful by itself, if it was not heading towards the very land that they were on.

The comet glowed with intensity soon rivalling the sun. Thoughts and emotions bubbled from deep within Xayken and floated to the surface. He was flooded and engulfed by a dark storm of primordial emotions. The turbulent entry of the comet weakened its structure and it fragmented into two pieces. Both slowly parted at the beginning but soon their distance grew. The smaller piece lagged behind while the larger piece raced across the great Dalu towards Capeborn and went beyond the horizon.

The minor fragment continued its own path down and plunged into ground. With infinite slowness that seemed to be a trick in his perception, Xayken saw everything, noted every detail. He was rooted; all his senses were drawn to the scene. There was nothing he could do. Paralysed, spellbound by the flash of pure light, the incarnation of death sped outward from the impact of the sledge-hammer that broke the world. His eyes, hurt and he instinctively blocked the light with his hands. But, it was too late. Blotches of bluish indigo and turquoise green started to floated erratically in his vision. His eyes full of tears as though trying to wash away the dancing multi-coloured blotches of after-images. Averting instinct, he forced his eyes opened to witness the great disaster.

He should have been afraid, but unashamedly, he admired the beauty of the rising cloud that sped upward into the sky. Fuchsia scarlet and khaki green. Mauve blue and vermilion yellow. Shades of brilliant colours that had never existed in this world. It has to be far away, at least ten mees, Xayken thought. Another part of him heard these thoughts as if it came from another stranger, very detached and very unreal. Despite the distance, Xayken could see the milky pillar rise and part the sky. An ashy grey cloud with tints of lavender ochre and mocha green blossomed from the top end of the heavenly pillar, expanding till it filled much of the sky. And still it swelled.

Such a grand display seemed incomplete. Xayken anticipated something more, even though he did not know what it was. Unknowingly, he had grasped the pillar next to the study table with his two pairs of hands. Then it came. A rising roar came as if from a land crying in anguish. Books, scrolls and artefacts danced and fell to the floor and still they danced. The Suuzhon was nowhere in sight. The walls of the cell, the trees outside, the cell-block, the entire hive, even the whole forest, were shocked into a wild dance, in tune with the death cry. Entire forests were flattened. The roar of the wind and the cries of the world deafened him. Xayken felt pain sprouting all over his body but strangely he did not really sense the agony.

He smelled smoke and fire. The hive is burning! A small fragment of his mind screamed in panic and wanted to climb up and help the hive. Danger, Fear, Panic. The flash-back came again and this time it was more intense. No longer in cohesive images, which held true to some inner narrative, the flash-back was now a collection of chaotic fragments, layered over one another with no sense of order. Danger, Fear, Panic. The turbulent wind of mental rebellion sulphufetted the fiery onslaught of his senses, and set Xayken’s mind afired, leaving only cinders of oblivion.

The non-sentient zhon that was once the Z’Don of Senya, expected the assail on its senses to last till it had no more use of them. But the assault eventually ebbed. The land convulsed and convolved as if writhing in pain for a few more times before dying down. The mindless zhon did not know how long it was there panting. It had lost the knowledge of time, knowledge of language, knowledge of self. Some warm blood trickled down its forehead, but the zhon did not notice, did not bother, could not care. Strangely, the silence after the onslaught still bounded the zhon from any action. How long since the impact? A pi? A mia? A fen? A sechen? The zhon did not know or even ask. Its eyes were still gazing at the largely dissipated mushroom when it started to rain.

N4:estw Spectacular visuals. I saw the glory but felt the strain and pain.

N3:btw High art indeed it was. At least the naler stopped its shaking.

S1:eb What art that demands a sacrifice of a forest of correlational dynamics?

S4:es What? It’s raining and nothing can be seen

N3:wts Cry, great sky, for that which is forever gone may not be recovered.

S5:wts Why be so sure about that?

Chapter 2. The Echoes of the Cataclysm

Diawyn and Wor Senya

WindRacers! Gather your wits together! Diawyn shouted as the shaking ground slowly subsided into a rumble. She had survived unscratched.

Diawyn! The young deputy commander recognized her commander’s voice and turned around.

Aoirey! Diawyn spotted her lying on the ground, with her lower body partially covered by debris. She rushed towards the commander, her throat sac deflated anxiously. Help me remove the debris. The other WindRacers obeyed.

Do not move your body, commander, said Diawyn. We will remove the debris slowly.

Aoirey flexed her throat sac to acknowledge that she heard her. Aoirey was no longer young. At an age of twenty-one hatches, the commander was about to retire. An injury at this age was a cause for concern.

When it was all done, a quick inspection revealed a large bruise on Aoirey’s left hip. Her left wing was at an awkward position, indicating a fracture. What about her hip?

I’m going to check your injuries. Diawyn said as she gingerly probed Aoirey. As she gently touched her commander’s left hip, she heard a quick drawn breathe from Aoirey. Is it just a sore, or is it a fracture? Diawyn looked at her commander and Aoirey bloated. Her commander would demand to know the true extent of her injuries instead of false assurances. With that, Diawyn probed Aoirey’s hip harder to feel her bone. Aoirey’s entire body stiffened but Diawyn hardened her heart and continued her detailed inspection. She turned her around slowly with the help of two WindRacers as she inspected Aoirey’s spine. After a few moments, Diawyn heaved a sigh of relief and stopped her probing.

Your hip is badly bruised but there is no fracture. Your spine is also unscathed. Diawyn bloated with a smile.

The other WindRacers sighed with relief. Aoirey tried to bloat her throat sac but winced instead.

Do not exert yourself needlessly. Diawyn advised her commander.

Looking at the other WindRacers, she found Leejyn, leader for the third WindRacer patrol.Leejyn, check the state of the triad and report to me, she commanded.

I hear and obey. Leejyn kowed and quickly flew to gather some WindRacers to help her in her task.

Pileen! Diawyn spotted another of her patrol leader.

Pileen quickly flew to her. Yes, deputy triad commander. I stand ready.

Get stretchers and put the commander onto one. We must send the other injured WindRacers to the Y’yuan as soon as possible.

Pileen kowed and quickly went to complete her task.

Diawyn looked around and did a quick visual inspection of the state of the WindRacers. Not many were lying on the training ground. She flew to the nearest WindRacer on the ground and found that it was One-Blade Changhon. How is she? She asked the WindRacer who was tending to the One-Blade.

Two of her right arms broke. Two-Blade Elleen, the patrol leader of Changhon, reported.

Diawyn bloated. Bandage her as best as you can. She looked at Changhon and assured her, We will send you to the Y’yuan as soon as possible. Changhon bloated her thanks quietly, her throat sac indicating that she was touched by the concern of her deputy triad commander.

Deputy commander.

Diawyn looked up and saw Leejyn flying towards her. The patrol leader kowed and checked the figures on her dyepad before reporting, WindRacer Triad. Total strength, one thousand seven hundred and thirty. Seriously injured, fifty-six. Lightly injured, two hundred and four. End of report.

It is fortunate that we were practising blade stances in the open training ground. The situation could have been worse, said Diawyn. Only a few low lying buildings surrounded the parade ground, and some had completely collapsed from the quake. Aoirey was injured by those debris.

The implications of her commander being out of action finally sunk in. I’m now in charge. Diawyn bloated her throat sac to summon out her reservoirs of confidence. We need to send the injured to the Y’yuan. The uninjured WindRacers can help in evacuating other hivers at the hive centre. We will all escort the injured to the Y’yuan. Then we will see where we’re needed most.

Yes, commander. We hear and obey.

The concerted efforts of the uninjured WindRacers quickly treated the lightly wounded ones and